The Scout Report - July 2, 1999

July 2, 1999

A Publication of the Internet Scout Project
Computer Sciences Department, University of Wisconsin-Madison

The Scout Report is a weekly publication offering a selection of new and newly discovered Internet resources of interest to researchers and educators. However, everyone is welcome to subscribe to one of the mailing lists (plain text or HTML). Subscription instructions are included at the end of each report.

Scout Report for Social Sciences and Business & Economics
Scout Report for Social Scienceshttp://scout.cs.wisc.edu/report/socsci/1999/ss-990629.html
Scout Report for Business & Economicshttp://scout.cs.wisc.edu/report/bus-econ/1999/be-990701.html
The nineteenth issues of the second volumes of the Scout Reports for Social Sciences and Business & Economics are available. The In the News section of the Social Sciences Report annotates nine resources on underwater archaeological excavations at the scene of the 1798 Battle of the Nile. The Business & Economics Report's In the News section offers eight resources on the recent Coca-Cola contamination and product recall in Belgium. [MD][Back to Contents]

Meta Search Engine for Searching Multiple Human Rights Siteshttp://www1.umn.edu/humanrts/lawform.html
Recently unveiled by the Human Rights Library of the University of Minnesota (originally reviewed in the January 5, 1996 Scout Report), this new search engine will be welcomed by researchers and activists in human rights. Searchable by keyword and several optional operators (Boolean, proximity, truncation), the engine retrieves data from any or all of the 23 different rights-related sites that users select. Interestingly, returns are presented "as is" from the source pages (with page header, images, and unique formats) but combined into a single results page. A test search for "Northern Ireland" on four selected sites returned over 40 results. Direct links to the featured databases and, in some cases, their search tips pages are also provided. [MD][Back to Contents]

Colorado Natural Diversity Information Source (NDIS) [Frames, Java]http://www.ndis.nrel.colostate.edu/
A combined effort of several agencies and hosted by Colorado State University, the Colorado Natural Diversity Information Source (NDIS) is offered as both an aid in making land use decisions and as an educational resource. The heart of the site is the System for Conservation Planning (SCoP), which allows users to select a geographic region of interest within the state and get specific information about the wildlife, plants, and natural communities within that area, the potential impacts of development, and the value of wildlife habitat within the area relative to its surroundings. To work properly, SCoP requires a Frames- and Java & JavaScript-enabled browser. The site also offers the full text of several related publications, including a wildlife handbook, the Colorado Rare Plant Field Guide, and several water quality studies. Future plans for the site include a GIS database for "technically informed users" and GIS professionals. [MD][Back to Contents]

LIBRO: The Library of Iberian Resources Onlinehttp://libro.uca.edu/
The Library of Iberian Resources Online (LIBRO) is a joint project recently initiated by the American Academy of Research Historians of Medieval Spain and the University of Central Arkansas. LIBRO aims to provide an online, full-text collection of "the best scholarship about the peoples and nations of the Iberian peninsula." Currently, the small collection features historical texts on the Hispanic Middle Ages (ca. 500 to 1500), but intends to expand in the near future to include titles from the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Users may browse the collection by author or title or search the entire collection by keyword(s). [AO][Back to Contents]

Feminist Theory Websitehttp://www.cddc.vt.edu/feminism/
Created by Professor Kristin Switala of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and hosted by the Center for Digital Discourse and Culture at Virginia Tech University, this site is aimed at students, scholars, and activists "interested in women's conditions and struggles around the world." The site, which states that it contains over 5,000 bibliographical entries, close to 600 related links, and almost 700 paragraphs of information, is divided into three sections: Fields within Feminism, National/ Ethnic Feminism, and Individual Feminists. The first section offers bibliographies, links, and names of specific people working within more than 30 fields of feminist thought and theory. The second section offers the same, but for specific countries, organized under seven regions. The final portion of the site offers brief biographical information, a summary of major themes, a bibliography, and links to related sections on the site for over 80 individual feminists, listed alphabetically and identified by nationality. This site is an excellent starting point for anyone interested in researching particular themes in feminist thought or seeking information on feminist communities in specific regions. [MD][Back to Contents]

National Gambling Impact Study Commission Final Report [.pdf, 58p.]http://www.ngisc.gov/reports/finrpt.html
National Gambling Impact Study Commission (NGISC)http://www.ngisc.gov
Officially released on June 19, the NGISC's (mentioned in the March 9, 1999 Scout Report for Social Sciences) final report to Congress, the President, and state governors reveals that casino gambling is America's third-favorite leisure activity in terms of money spent, after video, audio, and computer equipment and books and newspapers. While noting the incentives for development and jobs created by casinos in local areas, the report also discusses the financial and human cost of pathological gambling. The report goes on to make 76 specific recommendations, none of which carry any legal weight. However, the Commission studiously avoids what many feel is the fundamental question: Do the social costs of gambling outweigh its economic benefits? As a result, both opponents and proponents of legalized gambling have embraced the report, claiming specific portions of it vindicate their position. Users may download the report in .pdf format in nine sections or in its entirety at the site. [MD][Back to Contents]

Two from the USGS
Topographic Map Symbolshttp://mapping.usgs.gov/mac/isb/pubs/booklets/symbols/
Greenwood Digital Information Products Archive [.pdf, ARC/INFO, .tar, .gzip]http://greenwood.cr.usgs.gov/
A consistent provider of high-quality online resources, the US Geological Survey (USGS) does not disappoint with these two sites. The first, announced this week, is an online version of its popular guide to topographic map symbols. Although a bit brief, the guide will prove helpful to general users of topographic maps and beginning geography students. The guide offers charts explaining map symbols in six different categories. A very short introduction to reading topographic maps and a list of related links are also provided. The second offering, a repository for digital publications, is aimed at a much more academic and professional audience. At the site, users will find a wide range of geographic and geological materials, most of them recent, including a variety of thematic maps, reports, circulars, fact sheets, professional papers, and open-file reports. These materials are presented in a number of formats, but all of the necessary software and utilities are available at the site. A Recent Additions section is also provided. [MD][Back to Contents]

Baby Boomers Envision Their Retirement: An AARP Segmentation Analysis [.pdf, 110 p.]http://research.aarp.org/econ/boomer_seg_toc.html
Sponsored by the American Associated of Retired Persons (AARP), this 110-page report examines Baby Boomers' plans, expectations, and attitudes about their upcoming retirement. After interviewing 2,001 Americans born between 1946 and 1964 and holding focus groups in four US cities, the AARP found that eight out of ten Baby Boomers expect to work at least part-time during their retirement and this workforce surge could create unexpected changes in American society. According to the AARP, such a "working retirement" attitude could end "one-size-fits-all" retirement plans for America's current aging population. [MW][Back to Contents]

TILAN -- Trends in Latin American Networkinghttp://lanic.utexas.edu:80/project/tilan/
This new site from the Latin American Network Information Center (LANIC) at the University of Texas (last reviewed in the (November 13, 1998 Scout Report) offers a number of resources regarding the expansion of the Internet throughout the countries of Latin America. These include full-text research papers and articles on networking in Latin America (some in Spanish only), several collections of statistics, very brief summaries of basic networking statistics for each Latin American country with links to further information, and a subject directory of related sites. Although TILAN is still quite modest, users interested in tracking the Latin American Internet will want to monitor the site's development. [MD][Back to Contents]

News Networkhttp://www.lawnewsnetwork.com/
A free service of American Lawyer Media, Law News Network is an Internet-only current awareness resource for legal professionals, journalists, policy makers, or anyone else interested in breaking legal news. Updated daily (weekdays), the site culls stories from American Lawyer Media's own publications (The American Lawyer and The National Law Journal) and eighteen other daily and weekly newspapers and journals. Conveniently, Law News Network places the full text of all of its feature stories on its own site, instead of merely linking to them. As with most professional news services, a free daily email digest is also available. Additional free resources on-site include an Op-Ed section, discussion groups, legal classifieds, links to regional online law journals, and a collection of law firm-sponsored briefing papers (memos) sorted by subject. [MD][Back to Contents]

What About Men's Health? - NWHIChttp://www.4women.gov/Mens/index.htm
This recent addition to the National Women's Health Information Center (NWHIC) (reviewed in the April 23, 1999 Scout Report) explores health risks which are of concern to men. Although specifically aimed to help women learn more about men's health concerns, users of both sexes will benefit from this metasite, which links to a host of publications from various government bodies and related national organizations concerned with health and disease. In addition to ten sections on specific topics such as cancer, fitness, heart disease, HIV/AIDS, prostate health, and smoking, the site includes three sections on the health of three subgroups: college-age men, minority men, and older men. A link to the Healthfinder (discussed in the April 18, 1997 Scout Report) men's health information page is also provided. [MD][Back to Contents]

Claiming Art | Reclaiming Space: Post Apartheid Art From South Africa [Netscape 4.0 or MIE 4.0, FLASH 3]http://www.si.edu/nmafa/exhibits/SAsite/top.htm
The Smithsonian National Museum of African Art presents this Web version of a current exhibition that examines the effects of Apartheid and the post-Apartheid era on artists' creative expression in South Africa. A quote by artist David Koloane introduces the show, "Apartheid was a politics of space more than anything. . . . Apartheid legislation was denying people the right to move." The exhibition has four sections: Claiming Art | Reclaiming Space, Artists and Apartheid, Art Centers and Workshops for Black Artists, and The Exhibition. Each has explanatory text and, in a band at the top of the screen, thumbnails of details from five related artworks presented. Clicking on any thumbnail opens a new window with a larger version of the work, and from this window, visitors can browse all of the art in that section in the larger format. [DS][Back to Contents]

NASA is My Playgroundhttp://www.nasa.gov/kids.html
NASA has long maintained a considerable Web presence, offering data, photos, and news for astronomers and scientists, as well as the curious general user. The agency has also created a fair number of sites aimed at younger users, but like the rest of NASA's sites, they have been widely scattered and attached to various different projects. This new metasite from NASA brings together these kids' sites in one convenient location. Divided into six sections (Airplanes, Earth, Planets, Stars and Galaxies, Space Travel, and Other), NASA is My Playground links to a wide variety of online activities and educational content aimed at younger users. Some of these include the Adventure of Echo the Bat, Build your own Martian spacecraft, Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous Quiz, and NASA Rocket Classroom Activities, among many others. A number of links to other NASA sites and projects are also provided. [MD][Back to Contents]

The Shadow PDF Fileshttp://www.teleport.com/~skaye/index.html
Who Knows What Evil Lurks In The Hearts Of Men? Created by several enthusiasts of the old pulp fiction Shadow Magazine, this site offers out-of-print classic Shadow tales in their entirety in .pdf format, even including the original graphics where available. Two stories are currently featured: "The Seven Drops of Blood," and "The House that Vanished." Twenty more tales of suspense and mystery to keep you on the edge of your keyboard can be found in the Back Issues section, including "The Man Who Died Twice," "The Voodoo Master," and "House of Ghosts." Users can also browse a collection of original magazine covers and related Shadow links and sign up for email notification of new stories. The stout-hearted may proceed with care. [MD][Back to Contents]

Wimbledon 99http://www.bbc.co.uk/wimbledon/
Presented by BBC Sports, this Website offers news, results, analysis, and features on what is probably the best-known professional tennis tournament, Wimbledon, which concludes this weekend. At the site, users will find a guide to the tournament, the order of play, match summaries, player profiles, photo galleries, and a link to live RealPlayer coverage from BBC Radio5. Highlights of the large Features section include Championship Classics -- a collection of profiles of the tournament's greatest winners -- and pieces on nutrition and tennis performance, fashion and Wimbledon, and how the famous grass courts are maintained. [MD][Back to Contents]

Improved Netscape Search Servicehttp://search.netscape.com/
Press Releasehttp://netscape.com/newsref/pr/newsrelease774.html
Last week, Netscape announced a new search service built on its Open Directory Project (reviewed in the November 20, 1998 Scout Report), its Smart Browsing technology, and the services of Google.com (reviewed in the June 4, 1999 Scout Report). Probably the nicest new feature for current Netscape browser users is that they can now simply type the word "search," followed by a space and the term they are searching for, within the location bar whenever they want to conduct a search. Search returns are reviewed and categorized by a team of editors from the Open Directory Project, with official or especially useful sites tagged with an "Editor's Choice" icon. Users should note that, although the Open Directory includes over 675,000 sites, the sites have been "hand-picked" and thus some arbitrary omissions inevitably result. However, a link is provided at the bottom of each search page for additional results using the Google engine, which searches over 60 million more sites. More details on the new service and how to participate in the Project are offered in the press release. [MD][Back to Contents]

Everglades Restoration Plan
Saving Everglades gets election push -- MSNBChttp://www.msnbc.com/news/285374.asp#BODY
"Showdown over $7.8 billion plan to restore the Everglades" -- CSMhttp://www.csmonitor.com/durable/1999/07/02/p2s2.htm
"White House to Present $7.8 Billion Plan for Everglades" -- New York Timeshttp://www.nytimes.com/library/politics/070199gore-everglades.html
Everglades Legislation -- NPR [RealPlayer]http://www.npr.org/ramfiles/me/19990701.me.05.ram
Central and Southern Florida Project Comprehensive Review Studyhttp://www.restudy.org/
Final Integrated Feasibility Report and Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) [.pdf, 4033p.]http://www.restudy.org/finalrpt/finalrpt.htm
South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Task Forcehttp://www.sfrestore.org/indexold.html
Yesterday, the Clinton administration presented a $7.8 billion plan for the largest ecosystem restoration in history, an effort that would save both what is left of the wetlands in the Everglades and Florida's water supply. The $7.8 billion, half of which would come from the federal government and half from the state of Florida, would be spent over 20 years. After this, the project would cost $182 million per year to maintain. The thrust of the project is the dismantling of a network of canals and levees built in the 1940s to control flooding. These canals and levees, combined with demands made on the wetlands for agriculture and drinking water, have shrunk the Everglades by over 50 percent and reduced the flow of water by 70 percent. Among other negative results, this shrinkage has caused the native bird population to drop by over 90%. The new plan enjoys wide support from both conservation groups and agricultural interests (who were initially opposed) and is very popular in Florida, a key state in any presidential campaign. However, the future of the restoration plan in a fiscally-minded Congress is still uncertain.

The first three articles, from MSNBC, the Christian Science Monitor, and the New York Times (free registration required), explore how the plan came together, its reception by the interested parties, and how it might play in Congressional and presidential politics. The fourth resource, from National Public Radio's (NPR) July 1 Morning Edition, is a four-minute audio report on the new plan and its reception by environmentalists and Florida agricultural companies. In 1992, Congress commissioned a team of 150 experts to perform a Comprehensive Review Study (Restudy) of the Central and Southern Florida (C&SF) Project, a 50-year-old Florida water resources project. On July 1, the Restudy team submitted its "Comprehensive Plan," which mirrors the administration's proposed project. Users can read the full text of the team's 4,000-page Final Integrated Feasibility Report and PEIS (released in April 1999), at the site. Finally, users may wish to visit the site of the South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Task Force, a group of representatives of federal, state, and local governments and two Indian tribes that oversees and coordinates the Everglades restoration effort. The task force site offers documents and press releases, although none relate to the most recent proposal as of yet. Additional resources on the Everglades, wetlands, and ecosystem restoration may be found in Signpost, the Scout Report's database. These include the Everglades Field Trip, Conservation Ecology, and the Economic Research Service's paper, "Wetlands and Agriculture: Private Interests and Public Benefits". [MD][Back to Contents]

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Copyright Susan Calcari and the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents, 1994-1999. The Internet Scout Project (http://scout.cs.wisc.edu/), located in the Computer Sciences Department of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, provides information about the Internet to the U.S. research and education community under a grant from the National Science Foundation, number NCR-9712163. The Government has certain rights in this material. Permission is granted to make and distribute verbatim copies of the entire Scout Report provided this paragraph, including the copyright notice, are preserved on all copies.

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